What is a lis pendens?

A lis pendens is a legal document that is filed with a court in the state of Texas when a lawsuit is brought against a property owner. The purpose of the lis pendens is to provide notice to potential buyers and lenders that a claim has been filed against the property. The lis pendens essentially puts the world on notice that the property is the subject of a claim and that the ownership is in dispute. In Texas, once a lis pendens is filed, anyone that attempts to buy or borrow against the property must be given notice of any legal proceedings that are related to the property. This requirement applies even if there is no intention to buy, lease, or loan against the property. If the person or entity does not have such knowledge, any transaction related to the property may be voided. The lis pendens also serves to protect the interests of creditors who may have a stake in the property. Generally, a lis pendens is valid for up to four years or until the lawsuit relating to the property is resolved. If the lis pendens is not removed within that time frame, it will automatically expire. This means that the legal dispute is still valid but the lis pendens is no longer enforceable. In summary, a lis pendens is a legal document that is filed with a court in the state of Texas when a lawsuit is brought against a property owner. The purpose of the lis pendens is to provide potential buyers and lenders with notice of the legal proceedings related to a property. The lis pendens serves to protect the interests of potential buyers, lenders, and creditors.

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What is a lis pendens?

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